Apparatus for confining floating pollutanys

ABSTRACT

A sizeable number of substantially rectangular buoyant lightweight and fireproof platforms are provided which are connected in series and adapted to be towed to the site while flat, made to surround the area from which the pollutants are to be removed, and then rotated approximately 180* on their axes to assume a substantially vertical position. While in vertical position these substantially rectangular platforms are adjustable as to the depth to which they extend. After the pollutants have been removed to a satisfactory extent, the substantially rectangular platforms are rotated on their longitudinal axes to assume their initial flat position, and then towed away while still serially connected as before. Means for effecting the aforementioned rotational movement of each of the substantially rectangular platforms is provided by one or more elongated tanks which extend transversely of the platforms, and which are divided by an airtight partition into an airtight flotation compartment and an airtight ballast compartment, together with means for adjusting the quantity of water in each of the ballast tanks; also for adjusting the depth to which the platforms extend into the water when in their vertical positions.

Rolfson APPARATUS FOR CONFINING FLOATING POLLUTANTS Emmet H. Roltson,RR. 3, Estherville, Iowa [22] Filed: May 3, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 250,062

[76] Inventor:

[52] US. Cl. 210/242, 61/1 F, 210/D1G. 21 [51] Int. Cl. E02b 15/04 [58]Field of Search 210/83, 242, DIG. 21; 61/1 F [5 6] References CitedUNITED STATES PATENTS 3,578,171 5/1971 Usher... 210/242 3,592,008 7/1971Trindle 61/1 F 3,628,665 12/1971 Bakker 210/242 3,650,406 3/1972 Brownet al. 210/242 3,369,664 2/1968 Dahan 210/83 3,688,506 9/1972Marcocchio..... 210/242 3,686,870 8/1972 Blomberg 61/1 F 3,701,25910/1972 Heartness 61/1 F 3,563,036 2/1971 Smith et a1. 61/1 F 3,608,3169/1971 Manuel 61/1 E Primary Examiner-Samih N. Zaharna AssistantExaminer-T. A. Granger Attorney-Robert U. Geib, Jr.

[ Oct. 9, 1973 [5 7] ABSTRACT A sizeable number of substantiallyrectangular buoyant lightweight and fireproof platforms are providedwhich are connected in series and adapted to be towed to the site whileflat, made to surround the area from which the pollutants are to beremoved, and then rotated approximately 180 on their axes to assume asubstantially vertical position. While in vertical position thesesubstantially rectangular platforms are adjustable asto the'depth towhich they extend. After the pollutants have been removed to asatisfactory extent, the substantially rectangular platforms are rotatedon their longitudinal axes to assume their initial flat position, andthen towed away while still serially connected as before. Means foreffecting the aforementioned rotational movement of each of thesubstantially rectangular platforms is provided by one or more elongatedtanks which extend transversely of the platforms, and which are dividedby an airtight partition into an airtight flotation compartment and anairtight ballast compartment, together with means for adjusting thequantityof water in each of the ballast tanks; also for adjusting thedepth to which the platforms extend into the water when in theirvertical positions.

3 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures APPARATUS FOR CONFINING FLOATING POLLUTANTSRegardless of the manner in which they are caused, floating pollutantsand especially slicks of oil or other petroleum products on waterways,have created very serious problems for many years. In more recent years,the vast increase in offshore oil wells has greatly increased theincidence of oil slicks and the objectionable characteristics thereof.In some instances, slicks are formed of highly flammable petroleumproducts, such as gasoline and serious fire hazards are created.

It is among the objects of the present invention to provide a veryefficient apparatus for removing undesirable substances from the surfaceof a body of water; whether said substance be aflame or otherwise.

Another object is the attainment of the foregoing in a manner which issimple and inexpensive, requiring equipment which is relativelyinexpensive to manufacture, operate and maintain.

The foregoing and other objects will become more readily understoodafter referring to the following description and annexed drawingswherein like reference characters designate like parts, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is an isometric view illustrating one of the lightweight buoyantplatforms of the apparatus of the invention;

FIG. 2 is an end view of the lightweight buoyant platform of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an elevational view illustrating in greater detail one of thepressure tanks which are carried by the lightweight buoyant platforms;

FIG. 4 is a schematic view illustrating a series of the lightweightbuoyant platforms being towed by a mg or other marine vessel;

FIG. 5 is a view which is similar in nature to that of FIG. 4, butillustrating the tug as having towed a series of lightweight buoyantplatforms into such position as to form a pen which circumscribes ordelineates the area of the slick to be removed;

FIG. 6 is a plan view of a skimming device which may be employed toremove the penned-in slick on the waterway;

FIG. 7 is an elevational view of the apparatus of FIG. 6; and

FIG. 8 is an elevational view illustrating one of the details of theapparatus.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the numeral l designates alightweight, substantially flat, fireproof platform which is relativelythin and rectangular in plan; and disposed on one side of said platformin a series of transversely extending evenly spaced pressure tanks 3which are secured in position by any suitable means, such as a series oftransversely extending straps 5. A series of such pressure tanks 3 may,as shown in the drawings, comprise four in number.

The straps 5 which are shown in spaced relationship may be attached byany suitable means to the adjacent side of the lightweight,substantially flat, platform while they are in longitudinal parallelism.

It will be understood that the invention contemplates the use of asizeable number of such lightweight, substantially flat, rectangularfireproof platforms, each with its own series of transversely extendingevenly spaced pressure tanks 3, and since they may be of identicalconstruction but one of them will, for purposes of disclosure, bespecifically described immediately hereinafter.

Each of the pressure tanks 3 on the lightweight, substantially flat,rectangular platform 1 is provided with an intermediately disposedinterior partition 7.

As viewed in FIG. 3, the upper portion of the interior of the pressuretank 3, as established by the interior partition 7 is air-sealed andprovides a flotation compartment 8 which establishes buoyancy for thetank (3) to float; and the lower portion of the interior of the pressuretank 3 is likewise air-sealed and provides a ballast compartment 9.

As shown most clearly in FIG. 3, two tubes 10 and 12 extend downwardlyfrom the top of each of the pressure tanks 3 and communicate with theballast compartment 9 thereof. The shorter of these two tubes i.e., thetube 10 terminates just below the transverse partition 7 at themid-section of the pressure tank, and serves to supply air to theballast compartment 9 while the longer one (12) terminates adjacent to,but slightly above, the bottom of the pressure tank; and serves tosupply water to the ballast compartment (9). The flotation compartment 8contains air and is air-sealed from the ballast compartment 9.

The air supply tube 10 and the water supply conduit 12 extend through,and project from, the top of the pressure tank 3 and are respectivelyconnected to an air supply conduit 16 and a water supply conduit 17.

The opposite ends of the air supply conduit 16 and the water supplyconduit 17 extend to a tug or other operating vessel which, in FIGS. 4and 5 is generally indicated at A.

Installed in the air supply tube 10, adjacent the upper end thereof, isa manual pet-cock valve 20, and a similar pet-cock valve 2] is similarlyinstalled in the water supply tube 12.

In addition, a ball-check valve 25 is installed in the air supply tube10 immediately above the pet-cock valve 20, the purpose of which is torestrict the flow in the air supply tube 10 to one direction i.e., intothe ballast compartment 9 of the pressure tank; and it closes to preventany water in the ballast compartment from flowing into the air supplytube.

Suitable pumping equipment (not shown) is carried by the tug or otheroperating vessel for supplying the air supply tube 10 and the watersupply tube 12 with air and water, respectively.

If the same are deemed desirable, counter-weights (not shown) may beutilized to assure the best weight distribution in the water for thepressure tank 3 (and the buoyant lightweight platform 1 carrying thesame) to assume a more or less true vertical position.

As stated earlier herein, in FIGS. 4 and 5 a series of buoyantlightweight platforms 1 (with their respective series or pluralities oftransversely extending pressure tanks 3) are connected in tandem orclose juxtaposition. For this purpose, there may be employed anintermediately disposed S-shaped coupling as shown at 30 in FIG. 8, thesame being provided with clamping screws 32 which engage the buoyantplatforms 1 closely adjacent their corresponding ends.

Such a connection between the successive buoyant platforms will permitsufficient flexibility to permit them to be towed into a circle or otherconformation and thus surround the oil slick or other fluid body to beremoved; and the very close proximity of the adjacent ends of theplatforms permit the formation of a substantially watertight pen.

When the tug or other operating vessel A is proceeding to the spill, thepressure tanks 3 are filled with air and they will therefore assume ahorizontal position in the water, as indicated in FIG. 4.

If sufficient towing speed is provided the buoyant platforms 1 willplane on the water and thus expedite arrival at the desired location.

Once at the scene of the spill the operator of the towing vessel A opensthe pet-cock valve 21 on the air supply tube of each of the pressuretanks 3 on each of the buoyant platforms 1, to thus fill the ballastcompartments 9 of said tanks with water; this being done in intervalsthe full length of the series of buoyant platforms 1. Thus weighted, theplatforms will assume a vertical position in the waterway, and thetowing vessel A, maneuvering in a circle can completely surround orenclose the spill so that pumping can begin.

Once the spill or other undesirable substance on the water is enclosedor surrounded the towing vessel A may, if desired, be disconnected.

Since the operator can control the ballast in the ballast compartment ofthe buoyant lightweight platforms 1, they can be raised or lowered inthe water to correspond to the depth of the spill.

Referring now to FIGS. 6 and 7, there is provided a skimming basin 35which is shown as being substantially square in plan and provided withdownwardly sloping or converging sides 36 which connect with a bottom 37of much smaller area. The bottom 37 is provided with an opening whichcommunicates with a suction hose which leads to suction pump (not shown)on the operating vessel 4; from whence it is pumped to a reservoiroutside of the pen formed by the series ofjuxtaposed buoyant platforms 1and associated equipment, or to any other suitable site for disposal.

It will be understood that the skimming basin 35 is carried by a seriesof pressure tanks 3 (shown as being four in number and disposed at thecorners of the skimming basin) which are identical in construction with,and operate in the same manner as, the pressure tanks 3 describedearlier herein. In these views the pet-cock valves and 21 have beenomitted in the interests of simplification.

Having thus described the invention what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:

1. Apparatus for confining floating pollutants comprising, incombination a plurality of individual substantially rectangular buoyantand relatively flat platforms which are connected together and adaptedto float flatwise and be moved in tandem into position surrounding thefluid body to be removed;

at least one transversely disposed elongated pressure tank attached toand carried by each of said individual buoyant platforms;

each of said pressure tanks being transversely partitioned and providingan air-sealed flotation compartment on one side and an air-sealedballast compartment on the other;

means for supplying the ballast compartment of each of said pressuretanks with sufficient water to cause the buoyant platform by which it iscarried to move into substantially vertical position;

whereby the plurality of such platforms may surround the area of thefloating pollutants while in said position;

means for adjusting the quantity of water in each of said ballastcompartments to thereby raise or lower the buoyant platforms accordingto the depth of the floating pollutants; and

removing the water from the ballast compartments of the pressure tankson the buoyant platforms until the latter again assume substantiallyhorizontal position.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said water supplying means, saidwater adjusting means, and said water removing means comprise a pair ofconduits which pass through said flotation compartment and saidtransverse partition and communicate with the interior of said ballastcompartment.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, together with a pollutant skimming basinand a plurality of pressure tanks of the type described disposedvertically and secured to the edges of said skimming basin atappropriately spaced positions with respect thereto, whereby said basinmay also be raised or lowered with respect to the depth of the area ofthe floating pollutants.

1. Apparatus for confining floating pollutants comprising, incombination a plurality of individual substantially rectangular buoyantand relatively flat platforms which are connected together and adaptedto float flatwise and be moved in tandem into position surrounding thefluid body to be removed; at least one transversely disposed elongatedpressure tank attached to and carried by each of said individual buoyantplatforms; each of said pressure tanks being transversely partitionedand providing an air-sealed flotation compartment on one side and anair-sealed ballast compartment on the other; means for supplying theballast compartment of each of said pressure tanks with sufficient waterto cause the buoyant platform by which it is carried to move intosubstantially vertical position; whereby the plurality of such platformsmay surround the area of the floating pollutants while in said position;means for adjusting the quantity of water in each of said ballastcompartments to thereby raise or lower the buoyant platforms accordingto the depth of the floating pollutants; and removing the water from theballast compartments of the pressuRe tanks on the buoyant platformsuntil the latter again assume substantially horizontal position.
 2. Theapparatus of claim 1 wherein said water supplying means, said wateradjusting means, and said water removing means comprise a pair ofconduits which pass through said flotation compartment and saidtransverse partition and communicate with the interior of said ballastcompartment.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1, together with a pollutantskimming basin and a plurality of pressure tanks of the type describeddisposed vertically and secured to the edges of said skimming basin atappropriately spaced positions with respect thereto, whereby said basinmay also be raised or lowered with respect to the depth of the area ofthe floating pollutants.